Bag roll cassette and method of use

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a bag having a tubular body with a top open end and a bottom closed end. The tubular body has a larger open diameter at the top open end. The tubular body narrows into a narrower open diameter adjacent to a bottom closed end. The tubular body in a flattened two-fold condition has a pair of side edges extending from a top edge to a bottom edge. The top edge delimits the top open end. The bottom edge delimits the bottom closed end. The pair of side edges are generally parallel to one another in a first portion adjacent to the top edge.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/603,113, filed on Oct. 4, 2019, which is an applicationunder 35 USC 371 of PCT Application No. PCT/IB2018/058402, filed on Oct.26, 2018, and which claims the priorities of United Stated ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/577,469, filed on Oct. 26, 2017 andUnited Stated Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/734,014, filedon Sep. 20, 2018, the entire contents of all of which said applicationsare incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application pertains to bag rolls as used in waste-disposalunits, such as garbage cans, pails, composts, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Disposal units, such as garbage cans, pails, composts, recycling binsare conventionally configured to support a bag. For convenience andcost-effective packaging, the bags are commonly part of a bag roll, withthe bags interconnected one to another. In a particular configuration,bag rolls are stored in a bottom of a pail or wire rack, and a free endof the bag roll is raised to be supported open at a top end of the pailor wire rack. Accordingly, when a bag is full of waste or other items,the filled bag may be removed for the next bag in the roll to bedeployed for receiving waste. However, as bags are filled with waste,they increase in volume and may be hard to remove from a pail or wirerack, especially if the filled bags are to be pulled upwardly out of thepail.

SUMMARY

It is an aim of the present disclosure to provide a novel bag roll.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure, thereis provided a bag comprising a tubular body with a top open end and abottom closed end, the tubular body having a larger open diameter at thetop open end, the tubular body narrowing into a narrower open diameteradjacent to a bottom closed end, and the tubular body in a flattenedtwo-fold condition having a pair of side edges extending from a top edgeto a bottom edge, the top edge delimiting the top open end, the bottomedge delimiting the bottom closed end, wherein the pair of side edgesare generally parallel to one another in a first portion adjacent to thetop edge.

Further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, the pairof side edges are generally parallel to one another in a second portionadjacent to the bottom edge.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, thepair of side edges form a taper from the first portion to the secondportion.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, atleast one weld seam causes the narrowing in the taper and in the secondportion.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, apair of the at least one weld seam cause the narrowing in the taper andin the second portion.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, acutout adjacent is to the weld seam.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, atleast one weld seam causes the narrowing in the taper and in the secondportion.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, apair of the at least one weld seam cause the narrowing in the taper andin the second portion.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, aflap is adjacent to the at least one weld seam, the flap excluded fromthe open diameter.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, thetubular body is made of at least two layers of film.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, atleast one of the layers is an ethylene vinyl alcohol.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, atleast one of the layers is made of at least one of polyethylene,bioplastic, polyactic acid, starch-base, plant-base.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, thetop edge in the flattened two-fold condition has a sine waveform shape.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, thebottom edge in the flattened two-fold condition has a sine waveformshape.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, thebag is configured for being hung to a tubular bag support of a disposalunit, the tubular bag support having an inner circumference C and a wallthickness T, the open diameter D being in accordance with(C_(S)/π+2T)<D<1.05 (C_(S)/π+2T).

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, arelation between the flattened two-fold width WA of the larger opendiameter and the flattened two-fold width WC of the narrower opendiameter is expressed as 0.60WA≤WC≤0.95WA.

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, thebag is configured for being hung to a tubular bag support of a disposalunit, the tubular bag support having an outer circumference C_(O), thebag having the flattened two-fold width WA of the larger open diameterin accordance with: C_(O)/2≤WA≤1.05(C_(O)/2).

Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, for example, thebag is configured for being hung to a tubular bag support of a disposalunit, the tubular bag support having an inner circumference C and a wallthickness T, the bag having the flattened two-fold width WA of thelarger open diameter in accordance with: π/2 (C_(S)/π+2T)≤WA≤1.05 π/2(C_(S)/π+2T).

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure, thereis provided a bag roll comprising: a plurality of the bag according tothe first embodiment, wherein the bags are connected end to end and fromthe bottom edge of a first of the bags in the bag roll, to the top edgeof a second of the bags in the bag roll.

Further in accordance with the second embodiment, for example, the bagroll is in a receptacle of a cassette body, a free end of the bag rollexiting the cassette body from a top opening in the receptacle.

In accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure, thereis provided a bag roll for being hung to tubular bag support of adisposal unit, the tubular bag support having an inner circumference Cand a wall thickness T, the bag roll comprising: a plurality of bagsconnected end to end and bottom to top, each one of the bags having anopen diameter D in accordance with: (C_(S)/π+2T)≤D≤1.05 (C_(S)/π+2T).

Further in accordance with the third embodiment, for example, the bagsare made of a continuous tubular body separated by a weld seam and atear line at a bottom edge of each of the bags.

Still further in accordance with the third embodiment, for example, thetubular body is made of at least two layers of film.

Still further in accordance with the third embodiment, for example, atleast one of the layers is an ethylene vinyl alcohol.

Still further in accordance with the third embodiment, for example, atleast one of the layers is made of at least one of polyethylene,bioplastic, polyactic acid, starch-base, plant-base.

Still further in accordance with the third embodiment, for example, atop edge of each of the bags in a flattened two-fold condition has asine waveform shape.

Still further in accordance with the third embodiment, for example, abottom edge in the flattened two-fold condition has a sine waveformshape.

In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, thereis provided a bag roll comprising a plurality of bags connected end toend and bottom to top, the plurality of the bags having a larger sectionadjacent to a top open end and a narrower section adjacent to a bottomclosed end, a relation between a flattened two-fold width WA of thelarger section and a flattened two-fold width WC of the narrower sectionbeing expressed as 0.60WA≤WC≤0.95WA.

Further in accordance with the fourth embodiment, for example, the bagsare made of a continuous tubular body separated by a weld seam and atear line at a bottom edge of each of the bags.

Still further in accordance with the fourth embodiment, for example, thetubular body is made of at least two layers of film.

Still further in accordance with the fourth embodiment, for example, atleast one of the layers is an ethylene vinyl alcohol.

Still further in accordance with the fourth embodiment, for example, atleast one of the layers is made of at least one of polyethylene,bioplastic, polyactic acid, starch-base, plant-base.

Still further in accordance with the fourth embodiment, for example, atop edge of each of the bags in a flattened two-fold condition has asine waveform shape.

Still further in accordance with the fourth embodiment, for example, abottom edge in the flattened two-fold condition has a sine waveformshape.

In accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure, thereis provided a bag roll for being hung to tubular bag support of adisposal unit, the tubular bag support having an outer circumferenceC_(O), the bag roll comprising: a plurality of bags connected end to endand bottom to top, each one of the bags having a flattened two-foldwidth WA at least adjacent to a top open end of the bag in accordancewith: C_(O)/2≤WA≤1.05(C_(O)/2).

Further in accordance with the fifth embodiment, for example, the bagsare made of a continuous tubular body separated by a weld seam and atear line at a bottom edge of each of the bags.

Still further in accordance with the fifth embodiment, for example, thetubular body is made of at least two layers of film.

Still further in accordance with the fifth embodiment, for example, atleast one of the layers is an ethylene vinyl alcohol.

Still further in accordance with the fifth embodiment, for example, atleast one of the layers is made of at least one of polyethylene,bioplastic, polyactic acid, starch-base, plant-base.

Still further in accordance with the fifth embodiment, for example, atop edge of each of the bags in a flattened two-fold condition has asine waveform shape.

Still further in accordance with the fifth embodiment, for example, abottom edge in the flattened two-fold condition has a sine waveformshape.

In accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure, thereis provided a bag roll for being hung to tubular bag support of adisposal unit, the tubular bag support having an inner circumference Cand a wall thickness T, the bag roll comprising: a plurality of bagsconnected end to end and bottom to top, each one of the bags having atleast a top open section with a flattened two-fold width WA inaccordance with: π/2 (C_(S)/π+2T)≤WA≤1.05 π/2 (C_(S)/π+2T).

Further in accordance with the sixth embodiment, for example, the bagsare made of a continuous tubular body separated by a weld seam and atear line at a bottom edge of each of the bags.

Still further in accordance with the sixth embodiment, for example, thetubular body is made of at least two layers of film.

Still further in accordance with the sixth embodiment, for example, atleast one of the layers is an ethylene vinyl alcohol.

Still further in accordance with the sixth embodiment, for example, atleast one of the layers is made of at least one of polyethylene,bioplastic, polyactic acid, starch-base, plant-base.

Still further in accordance with the sixth embodiment, for example, atop edge of each of the bags in a flattened two-fold condition has asine waveform shape.

Still further in accordance with the sixth embodiment, for example, abottom edge in the flattened two-fold condition has a sine waveformshape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag roll in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bag roll of FIG. 1 , with a bagdetached from the bag roll;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bag roll cassette in accordance withthe present disclosure, including for instance the bag roll of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bag roll cassette of FIG. 3 in afragmented waste-disposal unit;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the bag roll cassette and waste-disposalunit of FIG. 4 ;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are plan views of top edge outlines for bags of the bagroll of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a bag of the bag roll in accordance withanother embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bag roll in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bag roll in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3 , a bagroll cassette is generally shown at 10 (FIG. 3 ). The bag roll cassette10 may have a bag roll 20, rolled onto a tube 30, and inserted into acassette body 40 (FIG. 3 ). The bag roll 20 in accordance with thepresent disclosure may also be with or without the tube 30 and/or thecassette body 40.

The bag roll 20 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 1 and 2 . The bagroll 20 may be made of a film of plastic material. For example,depending on the contemplated use, the plastic material may be ofplastics such as polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE or HDPE), bioplastics,polylactic acid, to name a few of numerous possible materials. It isalso contemplated to add functional layers to the plastic film, such asethylene vinyl alcohol, for the film to form an odor barrier, or a nylonlayer to reinforce the bag. The film may also be biodegradable and/orcompostable material, such as starch-based or plant-based materials.

The bag roll 20 may be in the form of a length of tubular film, withweld lines and tear-off perforations delimiting a plurality of bagsinterconnected end to end, as shown as 20′, 20″ and so on. The tubularfilm may be accumulated on a roll, in a zig-zag pattern, etc. The bagroll 20 may consequently appear to be a continuous sheet as in FIGS. 1and 2 due to the thinness of the film, though the bag roll 20 has a pairof panels 21 overlaid onto one another, and joined at side edges 22. Inan embodiment, this is referred to as a flattened two-fold condition ofthe bags: the bags have two folds, i.e., one at each side edge 22, andno gusset. Although the bags in the bag roll 20 could have gussets inaccordance with the present disclosure, the transverse dimensions of thebag may be described herein as being in the flattened two-foldcondition. This may be construed as meaning that, even if the bag roll20 has gussets, the dimensions are for the transverse dimensions of thebag as if it were in a flattened two-fold condition. Even though thebags described herein may not be packaged or sold in the flattenedtwo-fold condition (it may have even more folds, e.g., folded onitself), the flattened two-fold condition is the condition in which thebags are laid flat on a surface so as to have two lateral folds—two sideedges—, between the top edge and the bottom edge. Moreover, reference ismade to the bag as being unstretched. This may be construed as meaningthat the bags are in their initial condition on the bag roll 20 prior tohaving a user handle the bags prior to installing same on a disposalunit, which may entail some elastic deformation or plastic deformation.The bags in their initial condition on the bag roll 20 may have beenplastically prestretched in manufacturing, but in spite of suchprestretching their condition on the bag roll 20 is said to beunstretched.

The side edges 22 of each bag extend from a top edge 23 to a bottom edge24 of each bag, such as bag 20′. In the end-to-end connection of the bagroll 20, the bags are interconnected such that a bottom edge 24 of aleading bag is connected to a top edge 23 of a trailing bag in the bagroll 20, in contrast to bag rolls in which bottom edges or top edges ofadjacent bags are interconnected. The side edges 22 are shown as eachhaving an outline that may include a straight segment 22A adjacent tothe top edge 23, a tapering segment 22B, and another straight segment22C. The straight segment 22C extends from the tapering segment 22B tothe bottom edge 24 of the bags. Though the moniker “straight” is usedfor segment 22C, the side edges may taper, from a maximum dimension ofWC. The expression “straight segment 22C” is used herein fordifferentiating purposes, in a non-limitative manner. Accordingly, thebags may have three different separate sections, namely a larger hookingsection 20A, a tapering section 20B, and a narrower disposal section20C, from top to bottom of the bags, such as bag 20′. In an embodiment,the bags are without the tapering section 20B, and thus transitiondirectly from the larger hooking section 20A to the narrower disposalsection 20C. The straight segments 22A, although shown as being parallelto one another, may taper toward the bottom edge 24. Likewise, thestraight segments 22C, although shown as being parallel to one another,may taper toward the bottom edge 24. As yet another embodiment, the sideedges 22 may taper continuously from the top edge 23 to the bottom edge24, at a continuous angle, or with two different angles, i.e., one forsection 20A and another for section 20C, with no section 20B. In anotherembodiment, the bag 20′ (whether or not part of the roll 20) has thestraight segments 22A parallel or quasi-parallel to one another, to thentaper beyond the larger hooking section 20A. In yet another embodiment,the bags of the bag roll 20 may be straight from the top edge 23 to thebottom edge 24, with a constant width, as in FIG. 7 . For clarity, thewidth described herein is the flat width as in FIG. 1 , i.e., with thebags of the roll in a flattened two-fold condition with the panels 21coplanar. The larger hooking section 20A has a width WA that is greaterthan a width WC of the narrower disposal section 20C, i.e., WA>WC.Widths WA and WC may be constant throughout most or all of the sections20A and 20C, respectively, if the segments 22A and 22C are parallel asin FIGS. 1 and 2 . If the segments 22A and 22C taper toward the bottomedge 24, the larger hooking section 20A has a minimum width WA that isgreater than a maximum width WC of the narrower disposal section 20C.For example, the width ratio is as follows: 0.60WA≤WC≤0.95WA. In anotherembodiment, the width ratio is as follows 0.65 WA≤WC≤0.85WA. In anembodiment, the segments 22A are parallel to one another, whereas thesegments 22C taper toward the bottom edge 24.

The bags, such as bag 20A, have a length L that may be segmented as LA,LB and LC, to be representative of the height of sections 20A, 20B and20C, respectively. In accordance with an embodiment, LC is at leasttwice the length of LA, i.e., LC>2LA. In accordance with anotherembodiment including the tapering section 20B, LC is at least twice thelength of the combination of LA and LB, i.e., LC>2(LA+LB). LA may beseparated into LA1 and LA2 if the top edge 23 defines a concavity orconvexity as detailed below. LA2 is the portion of the section 20A belowsuch concavity or convexity.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 6A to 6C, the top edge 23 may havedifferent outlines. In FIG. 1 , the outline of the top edge 23 is aconcave sine waveform segment. Other outlines are shown in FIGS. 6A to6C, such as (A) a straight segment, (B) a convex sine waveform segment,(C) a concave triangle waveform segment. As the bags of the roll 20 area pair of overlaid panels 21 as in FIG. 1 , when the panels 21 areseparated from one another to open the bag at the top edge 23, thenon-straight outlines of FIGS. 1, 6B and 6C, each form a pair of flapsthat may be used to form a knot to attach the bag closed. As the bagsare interconnected end to end in the bag roll 20 with adjacent bagsconnected bottom to top as described above, the bottom edge 24 has ashape that is complementary to the top edge 23. Stated differently, ifthe outline of the top edge 23 is a concave sine waveform, the bottomedge 24 is a convex sine waveform, etc.

In order to give the side edges 22 the shape described above, acontinuous seam 25 may extend from one of the side edges 22 to the otherto connect the panels 21 laterally. This continuous seam 25 includes aportion that defines the bottom closed end of the bags 20′, 20″, etc.Alternatively, the bags may have separate weld seams 25, i.e., theone(s) for the side edges 22 and the one for the bottom closed end. Forsimplicity, the expression “weld seams 25” is used in the plural, thougha single continuous seam 25 may be present, in a U shape for example.The weld seams 25 may be interpreted as weld seam segments of acontinuous weld seam 25. The seam 25 may be created by any appropriatewelding or adhering method, such as heat welding, etc, whereby referenceis made herein as a weld seam, although other types of jointing iscontemplated, such as gluing. The weld seam 25 may also connect thepanels 21 to define the bottom edge 24, i.e., the closed bottom end ofbags of the bag roll 20. The weld seam 25 may also extend to the topedge 23, although in FIG. 1 , the weld seam 25 ends at the largerhooking section 20A. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the straight segments22A of the larger hooking section 20A are the two folds in the tubularfilm as described above for the flattened two-fold condition, the foldsdefining a boundary between the panels 21. Therefore, in accordance withan embodiment, the weld seam 25 is made periodically in a straightcontinuous tube—a continuous tubular body—in a flattened two-foldcondition, and portions of the film laterally outside of the weld seam25 may be cut out to define the shape of FIG. 1 . In an embodiment,there is no such cut out, as the tubular film may remain present inspite of the weld seam 25 forming the narrower disposal section 20C.

Tear-off perforation lines 26 are punctured at the junction between thebottom edge 24 of a first bag, the leading bag such as 20′, and the topedge 23 of the subsequent bag in the bag roll 20, the trailing bag suchas 20″. The tear-off perforation line 26 may be defined by a series ofspaced-apart punctures along an outline emulating that of the bottomedge 23 and the top edge 24. The tear-off perforation line 26 isadjacent to the weld seam 25, and forms a weakened portion of the bagroll 20, causing a separation of one of the bags, such as 20′ in FIGS. 1and 2 , as a result of a tearing action. In an embodiment, the tear-offperforation lines 26 and cut outs at the sides of the weld seams 25 aredone by die cutting.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the bag roll 20 may be inserted into a cassettebody 40, being for example a receptacle from the bag roll 20. Thecassette body 40 may have a slit 41 or like opening, such as a topopening, through which a free end of the bag roll 20 extends. Thecassette body 40 is shown as having a cuboid geometry, although othershapes are considered as well, such as a rectangular prism, a cylinder,etc.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the bag roll 20 as part of the cassette10 (FIG. 4 ), or as a bag roll 20 alone (FIG. 5 ), i.e., without thecassette body 40, is received in a disposal unit 50. The expression“disposal unit” is used herein as encompassing a garbage, a diaper pail,a compost, a recycling bin, a litter pail, etc. The disposal unit 50 mayhave a base 51, upon which projects an upstanding wall(s) 52. Theupstanding wall 52 is in the form of a cylindrical tube in FIG. 4 , butmay have other shapes, with for example a square section, an ovalsection, etc. Although not shown, a hinged door may be part of theupstanding wall 52 to provide access to an interior of the disposal unit50. As another possibility, the upstanding wall 52 may be raised out ofengagement with the base 51. Various connection configurations may bepresent, such as quick connect mechanisms, fasteners, etc. A cover 53 ismounted atop the upstanding wall 52. The cover 53 may define a centralopening with a downwardly projecting rim 53A that may come into closeproximity or in contact with a bag to ensure the bag remains hung to thedisposal unit 50, as in FIG. 5 . Moreover, the central opening of thecover 53 shown in FIG. 4 may be shut closed by a trap door 54 (alsoknown as lid), hinged to a remainder of the cover 53. 53A The trap door54 opens or closes the top access to an inner cavity 55 of the disposalunit 50. It may be biased by a spring, or operated by a pedal mechanism,etc. Also, although not shown, a closing mechanism of any appropriateform (translation, rotation) may be provided in the inner cavity 55 orother location on the disposal unit 50 to squeeze the bag shut.

The disposal unit 50 has a tubular bag support 56 adjacent to the cover53. In an embodiment, the annular bag support 56 may have anyappropriate shape, and is shown as being cylindrical, with a circularcross-section. Other possible cross-sectional shapes include,non-exhaustively, square, rectangular, oval, squircle, pentagon,hexagon, octagon, etc. Accordingly, the expression “tubular” in tubularbag support 56 covers these multiple shapes. The tubular bag support 56has a height H_(S), an inner circumference C_(S), an outer circumferenceC_(O) and a wall thickness T. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 , in which thetubular bag support 56 is circular, the inner diameter is D_(S), and theinner circumference C_(S) is equal to πD_(S). The outer circumferenceC_(O) may be expressed as π(D_(S)+2T). In another embodiment, thedisposal unit 50 has two or more hooks acting as bag support 56. FIG. 5may be interpreted as having two elongated straight or curved hooks 56shown in cross section.

A funnel 57 is located below the tubular bag support 56 in theupstanding orientation of the disposal bin 50. The funnel 57 has acentral opening that may have the same shape as the tubular bag support56. Therefore, in FIG. 4 , the funnel 57 has a frusto-conical shape witha central circular opening have a circumference C_(F) and inner diameterD_(F). The height of the funnel 57 is shown as being H_(F). In anembodiment, the funnel 57 is immediately below the tubular bag support56, whereby a height H_(T) from a top edge of the tubular bag support 56to the edge of the central opening of the funnel 57 is as follows:H_(T)=H_(F) H_(S). In an embodiment, the funnel 57 is spaced apart fromthe tubular bag support 56, whereby H_(T) may include the spacing valuealong a vertical axis of the bin 50. The funnel 57 centers waste or likeitems deposited into the deployed bag, for the bag to remain generallycompact when filled. The funnel 57 may therefore facilitate the removalof the filled bag from the top of the disposal unit 50, i.e., by anupward pull of the user.

As observed in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the bag roll cassette 10 or bag roll 20are disposed in a bottom of the disposal unit 50. In an embodiment, aconnection configuration is provided for the bag roll cassette 10 or thebag roll 20 to be retained by the base 51, although the bag rollcassette 10 or the bag roll 20 may simply be deposited on the base 51and remain in the bottom of the disposal unit 50 by gravity. The freeend of the bag roll 20 extends upwardly, for the larger hooking section20A of the bag 20′ to be partially folded over the tubular bag support56. In doing so, the top open end of the bag 20′ is held open, forobjects to be dumped into the bag 20′. A remainder of the bag 20′,including narrower disposal section 20C, extends into the inner cavity55 of the bin 50. While the bag 20′ is attached to the tubular bagsupport 56, it remains connected to the bag roll 20 as shown in FIG. 4 .

In order for the bag 20′ to remain hung to the tubular bag support 56,the bag 20′ may have a given unstretched transverse flattened two-foldwidth WA at its top end, expressed as follows: C_(O)/2≤WA≤1.05(C_(O)/2).

If the tubular bag support 56 is circular, the bag 20′ will adopt acircular shape when hung to the tubular bag support 56, as in FIG. 4 .The diameter D of FIG. 4 at the opening of the bag 20′ can be expressedas (C_(S)/π+2T)≤D≤1.05 (C_(S)/π+2T). If the bag is not circular whendeployed open, the bag may comply with the following relation: π/2(C_(S)/π+2T)≤WA≤1.05 π/2 (C_(S)/π+2T), for the unstretched transverseflattened two-fold width WA. The latter relation may be for the bag asin FIG. 7 , for example.

In an embodiment, as in FIG. 5 , it is desired that the narrowerdisposal section 20C of the bag 20′ be located in line or below thebottom edge of the funnel 57. Indeed, the the narrower disposal section20C is configured to facilitate removal of a filled bag by upward pullin spite of the presence of the funnel 57 and closing mechanism (notshown). Accordingly, the bags of the roll 20 may comply with(LA+LB)>H_(T)+H_(S). The bags of the roll 20 may also comply with1.5H_(S)≤LA2≤2H_(S) in the case of the bags having the outlines of FIGS.1, 6B and 6C, such that the subsection of length LA2 of section 20A ofthe bags covers at least half of the outer circumference of the tubularbag support 56 when taut. If the bags have the outline of FIG. 6A, thebags of the roll 20 may also comply with 1.5H_(S)≤LA≤2H_(S) such thatthe section of the bags covers at least half of the outer circumferenceof the tubular bag support 56 when taut.

Because of the funnel 57, the bags of the roll 20 may have a givenunstretched transverse flattened two-fold width WC, expressed asfollows: WC≤C_(F)/2. Therefore, even when filled with objects, the bagsof the roll 20 may be pulled out of the bin 50 from the top, i.e.,through the funnel 57 and tubular bag support 56. In doing so, asubsequent bag in the bag roll 20 is pulled upward and its top end isgenerally aligned with the tubular bag support 56 when the filled bagexits the bin 50 from the top. The filled bag is detached from the rollof bags 20 once out of the bin 50, and the subsequent bag in the roll 20is hung to the tubular bag support 56 in the manner shown in FIG. 5 .

It is pointed out that the bag roll cassette 10 and/or the bag roll 20may be used in any other disposal unit, with or without the samecomponents as the disposal unit 50 of FIGS. 4 and 5 . The disposal unit50 is provided as an exemplary bin configuration adapted to be used withthe bag roll cassette 10 and/or the bag roll 20, yet it is clear thatvariants of the disposal unit 50 can be used with the bag roll cassette10 and/or the bag roll 20 as well.

Referring to FIG. 8 , another embodiment of the bag roll 20 isillustrated. The bag roll is similar to the bag roll 20 of FIG. 1 ,though without any cut outs at the sides of the weld seams 25.Accordingly, when laid flat as in FIG. 8 , the bag of the bag roll 20has a constant width. For example, the side edges 22 are parallel to oneanother on the full length of the bags from the bag roll 20. However,due to the presence of the weld seams 25, the dimension of the inside ofthe bag at WC—for instance in terms of inside diameter—is the same as inthe embodiment of FIG. 1 . Indeed, as the open bag has an innernarrowing due to the presence of the weld seams 25, the open diameter ofthe bag of FIG. 8 is similar to that of the bags of FIG. 1 . Flaps areformed to the exterior of weld seams 25. For example, the width ratio isas follows: 0.60WA≤WC≤0.95WA. The description provided above for the bagroll 20 of FIG. 1 extends to the bag roll 20 of FIG. 8 , with theexception of the cutouts at the weld seam. In all embodiments describedherein, there may be a single side portion for the weld seam 25 (i.e.,only one extending along the side edges 22) as opposed to the two sideportions shown in the figures, and yet achieve the narrowing describedherein. The bag 20′ of FIG. 8 —or of all figures—may also come asindividual units, i.e., not as part of a bag roll.

Referring to FIG. 9 , another embodiment of the bag roll 20 isillustrated. The bag roll is similar to the bag roll 20 of FIG. 8 ,though without the weld seams 25 forming the tapering section 20B. Whenlaid flat as in FIG. 9 , i.e., in a flattened two-fold condition, thebags 20′, etc, of the bag roll 20 have a constant width. For example,the side edges 22 are parallel to one another on the full length of thebags from the bag roll 20. However, due to the presence of the weldseams 25, the dimension of the inside of the bag at WC—for instance interms of inside diameter—is the same as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 .There is a step formed by the weld seams 25, resulting in a reduction inthe open diameter, at the transition between section and section 20B.Indeed, as the open bag has an inner narrowing due to the presence ofthe weld seams 25, the open diameter of the bag of FIG. 8 is similar tothat of the bags of FIG. 1 . For example, the width ratio is as follows:0.60WA≤WC≤0.95WA. The description provided above for the bag roll 20 ofFIG. 1 extends to the bags of the bag roll 20 of FIG. 9 , with theexception of the cutouts at the weld seam. The bag 20′ of FIG. 8 —or ofall figures—may also come as individual units, i.e., not as part of abag roll.

1. A bag comprising a tubular body made of film, the tubular body havinga first portion and a second portion, the first portion defining a topopen end and the second portion defining a bottom closed end, thetubular body in a flattened two-fold condition having a pair of sideedges extending from the top open end to the bottom closed end, the pairof side edges being generally parallel to one another between the topopen end and the bottom closed end and delimiting an interior of thetubular body, the tubular body having a larger open diameter at the topopen end, and a narrower open diameter in the second portion, at leastone weld seam defining the narrower open diameter, the at least one weldseam and at least one of the side edges defining at least one flaptherebetween, the at least one flap being excluded from the narroweropen diameter.
 2. The bag according to claim 1, wherein the tubular bodyis made of at least two layers of film.
 3. The bag according to claim 2,wherein at least one of the layers is an ethylene vinyl alcohol.
 4. Thebag according to claim 1, wherein the top open end and the bottom closedend are defined by straight edges.
 5. The bag according to claim 1,wherein a relation between a flattened two-fold width WA of the largeropen diameter and a flattened two-fold width WC of the narrower opendiameter is expressed as 0.60WA≤WC≤0.95WA.
 7. The bag according to claim1, including a pair of the at least one weld seam.
 8. The bag accordingto claim 7, further including a pair of the at least one flap.
 9. A bagroll comprising: a plurality of the bag according to claim 1, whereinthe bags are connected end to end and from the bottom edge of a first ofthe bags in the bag roll, to the top edge of a second of the bags in thebag roll.
 10. The bag roll according to claim 9, wherein the bag roll isin a receptacle of a cassette body, a free end of the bag roll exitingthe cassette body from a top opening in the receptacle.
 11. The bag rollaccording to claim 9, wherein the bags are made of a continuous tubularbody separated by a weld seam and a tear line at a bottom edge of eachof the bags.
 12. The bag roll according to claim 9, including a pair ofthe at least one weld seam defining the flap.
 13. The bag roll accordingto claim 12, further including a pair of the at least one flap.
 14. Thebag roll according to claim 11, wherein the tubular body is made of atleast two layers of film.
 15. The bag roll according to claim 14,wherein at least one of the layers is an ethylene vinyl alcohol.
 16. Thebag roll according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the layers ismade of at least one of polyethylene, bioplastic, polyactic acid,starch-base, plant-base.
 17. The bag roll according to claim 9, whereina relation between the flattened two-fold width WA of the larger opendiameter and the flattened two-fold width WC of the narrower opendiameter is expressed as 0.60WA≤WC≤0.95WA.
 18. The bag roll according toclaim 9, wherein the top open end and the bottom closed end of each saidbag are defined by straight edges.